So I read this article about "Living With JOY (Journey Of You)" and it was talking about finding yourself through your talents spreading the joy of living through them. So, I volunteered to play for a benefit concert for breast cancer. Yay for using my talents to spread joy ;)
Then I started thinking about my friend who wants to write a screenplay and be an actor - something that he would find fulfilling and as if he is leaving a legacy to the world. I then started to think of my own life. What legacy do I want to leave with the world?
I could play music, but I don't really play for myself anymore. It's not something that fulfills me anymore. Anything I would do from here on out would only seem like a disappointment after all the other things I've accomplished with music.
I love to teach music, and I'm very passionate about imparting the lessons of music and the mysteries it holds. I've always been a passionate teacher, but I doubt I'll ever be considered an expert in my field as far as that goes.
The list goes on and on, and the more I try to find a niche, the more I realize that there isn't a niche that needs to be filled. Life isn't about making your mark, but rather, doing what makes you feel good about the world you live in which, in turn, makes the world a better place.
I've always wanted to write a fantasy novel (a la video game RPG) - with magic, a chaste system, in a world about to be torn apart
I've always wanted to compile a book of my poetry
I've always wanted to redefine the string quartet through composing and arranging, then take it on the road.
I've always wanted to be a life mentor and watch my protege take the world by storm
I've always wanted to crack the music pedagogy code
I've always wanted to teach college-aged students music or literature
I have so much inside of me still, it seems.
2 comments:
"Life isn't about making your mark, but rather, doing what makes you feel good about the world you live in which, in turn, makes the world a better place."
*Ding, Ding, Ding*
This is going to be harsh - the perfect foil for Brian's response.
While I firmly believe that feeling better about the world we live in can be extremely fulfilling for some people, it doesn't strike me as the best option for you.
You have too high an opinion of yourself to be satisfied with a life defined by mediocrity: mediocre people, mediocre boyfriends, mediocre jobs, and mediocre achievements.
The only reason I can think of to explain why you would avoid establishing a legacy is because you're afraid of failure, afraid that you'll prove to yourself that you're just as mediocre as everyone else. Tell me though, how is dating mediocre men going for you? That well, huh? Now apply that to your entire life.
If you want to be great, do it already. Don't make excuses about how you don't care for music these days, or debate the usefulness of a college degree. You can either choose to waste your life wondering what could've been, or discover whether you have what it takes to be great. Great people don't need books to tell them what to do; they just go for it.
By the way, your path towards making the world a better place is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at greatness. Publishing a book of poetry, redefining the string quartet, training the next great musician, reinventing music pedagogy, and teaching college music and literature. How very humble of you.
Achieving greatness is hard. It takes time, effort, and an almost obsessive disregard for everything else in your life. But, more than anything, being great requires you to make no excuses, to be harder on yourself than anyone else, and to pick yourself up when you're, metaphorically speaking, lying on the floor bloodied from the punches life has given you.
If you don't want that, I guess you can settle for mediocrity. Of course, you and I both know it wont make you happy. At least it's easy though, right?
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